Union Strike One

faisaluno: sorry for the error about the profits. i somehow thought that THE NEWS was a reliable source of information for taking figures. i was obviously wrong. thanks for correcting me.

and the liberal agenda is not necessarily spoused by a lot of people. many of us are just publishing and getting the word around.

Peters: yes, there are pakistani`s who are not the biggest fan of the so called `Ummah` . !

A lot has happened since the article was written over a week ago. For an update, those who are interested can visit:

www.blogomonster.com/rizwan

and read the article:

`The State Strikes Back`

But the latest is that splinter groups have been formed within the Union. I guess all the state harrassment has payed off. But there is still some juice left in this union.

rizwan

No I do not think so, today PTCL ppl said they will not destroy communications but strike will go on however there was no news of stoppage of privatization.

Yes, very well dealt with. Everytime a strike occurs, let`s send in the Army. :D Next time, we should include the Air Force and the Navy (perhaps they could do some exercises on Rawal Lake).

Well, click on these links and see what an open, democratic society, free market economics and multiculturalism is doing to your very large neighbor to your east....

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=224312

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=212621

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=224568

Only in pakland will you find troops in a communications office.How reassuring for foreign investors.

Rezwan:
Thnks for coming with actual state in PTCL and the organized struggle of the union. Keep updating. Privatizing step of PTCL would be a step towards killing Pakistan with own hands.

shabash juwan:

actually this article has a glaring factual error. ptcl`s 2004 annual net profit (profit after tax)was US$ 496 million and not US$ 30 million as claimed by the author. this information can be verified from ptcl`s 2004 income statement available at the following link:

http://www.ptcl.com.pk/corporate_info/financial/anual_report%202004/comp_financial_con1.pdf

intersting to note that this website relies on analysis, people who are either (a) dishonest or (b) incompetent or maybe a combination of both. this is also why i think pakistanis with a ``liberal agenda`` such as chowk-staff are actually no different from the mullah crowd. both these groups are dishonest because both are intent on pushing an agenda rather than relying on facts to reach appropriate conclusion. main difference between chowk-staff and the mullah crowd is that chowk-staff are pushing an agenda which is alien to pakistanis and thus will not find any takers. rather extremist agenda of chowk-types will drive awam into the arms of the mullahs and that wont be pretty as examples in iran and afghanistan indicates.

In the end everything comes down to money:

``LAHORE: Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) on Tuesday reached an agreement with leaders of PTCL Telecom Employees Union - the largest of the nine unions forming PTCL Action Committee, reported Dow Jones Newswires............Shahid Ishaq Butt, a Telecom union leader, said the strike was being called off and the union won’t oppose privatisation...........Meanwhile, PTCL president Junaid Khan told Geo news channel that the previous agreement had been amended and a new mutually agreed upon pact was formed that assured job security to the employees. He said the union members had wanted security and their pay package revised, which had delayed the agreement.`` www.dailytimes.com.pk

The govt. has seen its first major employee strike. And seems to have dealt with it quite aptly.

The telecommunications sector in Pakistan is in an unprecedented boom. Any competent, over even average person, in this sector in Pakistan is going to make a lot of money. So much so, that Comp. Science depts. in Pakistan are now facing problems, because all the good students have started going into telecommunications. The software revolution that everyone was talking about, never came. But apparently a telecom revolution seems to have occured.......

Great issue! Will comment more later.

Whats going on, pakistanis are writing about their local issues instead of ummah issues. Is everything alright?.

Lets be realistic..Pakistans State Owned Enterprises are overstaffed monoliths..they are only divided into 3 types:
1) Overstaffed Monoliths that post profits because of their monopolies
2) overstaffed and corrupt monoliths that post losses inspite of their monopolies
3) those that collapse because of their losses..

Onto another argument..what business does the government have in doing business? Why should the GOP with it`s brilliant cadre of leaders have anything to do wth running telecom firms or banks? regulate yes..run NO..unless its role was specifically poverty alleviation or transfer of technology

Lastly..I think this is the first purely trade union strike in Pakistan..in ages..it must have spooked the PML-Q politicos who fear populism like nobodies biz...anyway a positive sign..